Pierce County shouldn’t wait until it’s too late. Install school metal detectors now | Opinion
School metal detectors are long overdue
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The primary way to prevent school shootings is to stop people from bringing guns into the schools. The only way to do that is to structure the buildings so students, employees and visitors must pass through a metal detector before entering the lobby.
If they can do it at Disney World, they can do it at public schools. Downtown Disney has a simple setup that efficiently processes thousands of people every day.
Yes, this would cost money, but what are the costs of the investigations, lawsuits, trials, incarcerations, and medical treatments that follow a shooting?
What is the value of a human life?
Beth Woodbury Hart, Puyallup
Democrats have failed Washington for years
Are you tired of crime, high cost of living and our transportation systems being a mess? The blame goes on the Democrats. They have had control of our state for many years and have ruined it with their high taxes and broken promises. I would like to know where all the tax dollars went that were supposed to fix roads, bridges, ferries, railroads and schools, but things have only gotten worse. Under the Democrats many businesses have closed or moved and people have lost their jobs, homes and have had a rough time getting enough food and gas. We have really good ballot measures to help push back against taxes but have been fighting to get rid of them trying to prevent us from having a say. If you want things to get better we all need to get out and vote for Republicans.
Matthew Ogard, Bremerton
Why I’m supporting Keith Swank for sheriff
The choice for a new sheriff comes down to promoting the longest tenured employee of the Pierce County Sheriff Department or giving an experienced outsider a chance to shake things up. Continuing to do things the same old way will not lead to better results. We are burdened by staffing shortages, poor community service, under used facilities and rising lawlessness of all types. I am supporting Keith Swank to deliver change to the Pierce County Sheriff department. Keith is proposing to improve service not by complaining about the chronic shortage of deputies but to relieve the current deputized staff of routine work that could be delegated to well trained non-deputies. A supportive staff could fill in underserved roles as community liaisons and the vastly short staffed civil division for starters. The Sheriff Department should not be a stepping stone to a better retirement by the next senior staffer waiting for their turn.
Dan White, Fox Island